News Release

Thursday, July 7, 2016

Rampart Division Officer Shoots at Suspect He Believes Is Armed With a Handgun NRF024-16ma

**The following information is based on a
preliminary, ongoing investigation which continues to evolve as
investigators interview witnesses, review physical and electronic
records, and analyze forensic evidence. The Department's
understanding of the facts and circumstances of the incident may
change as additional evidence is collected and
analyzed**

Los Angeles: A man fleeing from
LAPD Rampart Division officers reached for what the officer
believed was a handgun in his waistband and began turning toward
the pursuing officers. One of the officers fired his handgun but
missed the suspect.

Around 11:05 p.m. on April 20, 2016, Rampart Division Police
Officer Daniel Rodriguez and his two partners were in the area of
Hyans Street and North Occidental Boulevard. The officers attempted
to stop Alexis Ventura, who was riding a bicycle without a
headlight during hours of darkness, a violation of the California
Vehicle Code, when he fled initially on the bicycle and then on
foot. Ventura ran westbound in an alley north of Hyans Street and
the officers ran after him.

Officer Rodriguez, saw Ventura run through a hole in a chain link
fence at the rear of a residence in the 2800 block of Hyans Street.
As Officer Ventura looked through the hole in the fence, he saw
Ventura look in his direction and reach for his waistband where
Officer Rodriguez saw a shiny object, which he believed was a
handgun. As Ventura reached for the object in his waistband, he
turned toward the officer. Believing that Ventura was arming
himself, Officer Rodriguez fired one round at Ventura. The round,
however, missed Ventura and he was uninjured.

A perimeter was established and LAPD Metropolitan Division SWAT
responded and conducted a search of the area. They found Venture
inside of a vacant residence within the perimeter. The Los Angeles
County District Attorney's Office has filed one count of Resisting
a Peace Officer, 69 PC. There was no handgun recovered during the
search.

LAPD's specialized Force Investigation Division (FID) responded to
the scene and began interviewing witnesses and collecting forensic
evidence. The complete investigation will be reviewed by the Chief
of Police and the Board of Police Commissioners to determine
whether the use of deadly force complied with LAPD's policies and
procedures. In addition, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's
Justice System Integrity Division will conduct a comprehensive
review of the incident to determine whether any of the officers'
actions violated California criminal statutes.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call
LAPD's Force Investigation Division at 213-486-5230. During
non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to
1-877-LAPD-24-7 (877-527-3247). Anyone wishing to remain anonymous
should call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477) or send
a text to phone number 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S) on most keypads with a
cell phone. All text messages should begin with the letters "LAPD."
Tipsters may also go to www.lapdonline.org, and click on "Anonymous
Web Tips."